LOOKING SOUTH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23748, 30 August 1940, Page 9

LOOKING SOUTH

EAGER JAPANESE FEAR OF AMERICA MISSION TO BATAVIA By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received August 21), 7.10 p.m.) . • TOKIO, August 28 The Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun has charged the American newspapermen travelling on board the California Clipper with staging "a large-scale anti-Japanese demonstration." The newspaper states that certain Japanese sources have been reliably informed that the United States is making an effort to enlarge an economic blockade circle round Japan through the establishment between the United States and New Zealand of a regular air service and by other, means. American Interest It is added that.the United States Government has despatched a Standard Oil representative from Manila to Batavia for the purpose of restraining the forthcoming negotiations to be carried out with the Dutch East Indies authorities by a Japanese mission, headed by Mr. Kobayashi. The lavish personnel of the Japaneso delegation, totalling !20, indicates the importance that Japan attaches to the Dutch East Indies issue. "The delegation will clarify to the Dutch and also to the rest of the world the exact meaning, time, method and limit of Japan's long-discussed southward policy," the newspaper adds. The Nichi Nichi Shimbun says the decision to send the Kobayashi mission to the Dutch East Indies shows that Japan's determination to enforce her southward policy is stronger than ever. Eyes on Indo-China The Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Chung-hui, stated that China had learned that Japan was planning to land troops in Indo-China and also to take other military action in IndoChina, with a view to attacking China. He added that China considered that the entry of Japanese forces into IndoChina on any pretext menaced Chinese territory, and, therefore, China would immediately, in self-defence, send Chinese troops to Indo-China. Chinese troops at present near the Indo-China border have been ordered not to march across the frontier as long as Japaneso forces fail to appear iu Indo-Cliina. FLEET HELD BACK MUSSOLINI'S FEARS BRITISH BLOW UNANSWERED AFRAID TO RISK PRESTIGE NEW YORK, August 21 Writing from London, the wellknown diplomatic commentator, Augur (Mr. Vladimir Poliakoff) states: — "Mussolini kept his fleet inactive when the British Navy bombarded Marshal Graziani's bases in Libya, near the Egyptian, border, although ~ the Italian fleet had earlier set out from Taranto and other bases to engage the British, because he fears the. . consequences of a naval defeat for his personal regime. , "The news of such a defeat could not be kept secret, and the impression on Italian public -. opinion would be disastrous to Fascist prestige. Therefore, it must be avoided even at the cost of strategic considerations. "Mussolini gave orders immobilising the Italian- fleet directly on the heels of the order from the Italian Admiralty, which comprehended the danger of leaving the British challenge unanswered and which was prepared to contest the British bombardment of Bardia and Fort Capuzzo, which are now in ruins' Certain units of the Italian fleet even set out to sea and were recalled. "Bardia and Fort Capuzzo are hidden deep in a canyon-like cleft on the coastal plateau, and are . practically immune from aerial attack. They contained vast, and at present irreplaceable, supplies accumulated for the invasion of Egypt. The enterprise was personally cherished by Mussolinif These supplies are now destroyed, and this enterprise starts with failure because, involved in the effort to defend these supplies, was the possibility of a naval defeat, which Mussolini cannot contemplate."